Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

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Treatment Type: Herbal and Nutritional Supplements

Caregiver: Do it Yourself

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Ashwagandha has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Ashwagandha contains a class of compounds known as "withanolides", that are thought to have calming effects during periods of stress. It may also have antioxidant properties.

However, a report by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that "Randomized, placebo-controlled trials—which, when performed well, provide the strongest evidence—offer little support that taking vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, or other single antioxidants provides substantial protection against heart disease, cancer, or other chronic conditions. The results of the largest such trials have been mostly negative."